Sri Lanka government takes temporary control of cricket board amid reform push
Hope
Sri Lanka’s government has temporarily taken control of the country’s cricket administration in a major intervention aimed at restructuring the sport’s governing body and addressing long-standing governance concerns.
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports announced on Wednesday that all administrative functions of the Sri Lanka Cricket will be placed under its direct supervision on a temporary basis. Officials said the move is intended to pave the way for “structural reforms” within the organisation.
A special committee is expected to be appointed in the coming days to oversee the transition and implement reforms targeting the operational and administrative systems of the board.
The decision follows increasing scrutiny over the management of the country’s cricket affairs, with allegations of corruption and inefficiency having repeatedly surfaced in recent years. The governing body, one of the wealthiest sporting institutions in Sri Lanka, has long been criticised for governance instability.
The latest development comes shortly after the resignation of former president Shammi Silva and the entire executive committee, following direct government intervention into the board’s operations.
Sri Lanka Cricket has previously faced international attention over governance issues, including a suspension by the International Cricket Council during 2023–2024 due to political interference concerns.
Sri Lanka’s recent performances have also come under scrutiny, after the national team made an early exit from the 2026 T20 World Cup, which it co-hosted with India.
The government has not yet provided a timeline for when control will be returned to the board, stating only that the arrangement is temporary and aimed at restoring stability and accountability within the sport.
